Gone in Gilford : Why is the police chief on leave?

EDITORIALSeptember 18. 2013 11:07PMGilford Police Chief Kevin Keenan has been placed on administrative leave. Naturally, town officials will not say why. Former budget committee member Mark Corry surely spoke for many when he said, “I’m just a poor citizen who wants to know what’s going on.”

Keenan, chief since 2011, has been on the force for nearly two decades. He was placed on administrative leave with pay on Aug. 29. But the decision was not announced until last week, when Town Administrator Scott Dunn did so. Keenan is no longer driving his town-issued police cruiser, but Dunn would not say whether the chief has been allowed to keep his badge and gun.

So the chief of police is suspended, may not drive his town-owned cruiser, and may or may not have had his town-issued gun and badge confiscated, but Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman John T. O’Brien says “it’s a private matter.”

It is very much a public matter. And the public deserves to know what is going on. Town officials will not even confirm if Keenan is under investigation.

The people of Gilford should keep pressing their town officials for information.